Tag: environment

Forests absorb less CO2 than before

Why do forests absorb less carbon dioxide than 15 years ago?

This beetle lives only in Norway, on an endangered flower

It is only found in a few locations in Norway.

How often will European cities experience temperatures above 30°C in the future?

If temperatures rise by three degrees, cities in southern Europe will have dozens more days each year with temperatures above 30 degrees, according to a new study.

This creature, which has no brain, can clean the ocean and become fuel

The sea squirt starts its life as a small larva with a small brain, but then it finds a place to live.

The sea squirt was supposed to be animal feed, but it smelled too good

Biologist argues that this is the world's most climate-friendly meat.

These animals are drained of blood in order to save human lives

It looks a bit like a scene from a sci-fi movie.

Researchers warn of toxins accumulating in the environment

When researchers took samples of animals and the environment in Norway's capital, they uncovered substances that were phased out of production in the 1980s, as well as substances still in use today.

“Our urine is worth its weight in gold,” says researcher

Urine can be used as fertiliser for our plants.

Do we care that red meat is bad for the climate, or do we just eat what we want?

Norwegians are not going to cut their meat consumption enough even if they believe the climate impact is important, says a researcher behind a new Norwegian study.

The Earth traps more heat than before. This is partly due to cleaner air

There is a growing imbalance in how much energy the Earth receives and emits back.

This robot can shoot weeds with poison

“This is just the beginning,” says a researcher.

Rising concerns about marine health call for better knowledge of marine microbial communities

SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: Unlocking the mysteries of marine microbial communities can help us make better decisions on marine resource management.

Is this the bear of the future?

Climate changes are forcing polar bears and brown bears together.

Trees in cities are not always good for air quality

A common argument for more trees in cities is that they improve air quality. A new Norwegian study suggests that trees can also negatively affect air quality.

Research indicates that certain features in new cars may actually compromise safety

Most of the beeping, vibrating, and jerking in new cars save us from accidents. But safety features can also have the opposite effect, new research shows.

Are we really running out of helium?

ASK A RESEARCHER: “There has been a lot of talk about the world running out of helium,” says professor.

Norway wins the battle against silverfish

After several years of hunting, pest researchers have found an effective way to eradicate silverfish, where the creatures also contribute by killing each other.

When ice becomes as thick as this, it could linger for months

The roads and sidewalks in Norway are covered with an extremely thick layer of ice. Why does this layer form, and what does it take for it to melt?

Did people drive less when they were offered free public transport?

Researchers behind a new study are uncertain.

Is Norway a climate laggard compared to Sweden and Denmark?

Norway has only managed to cut about five per cent of its greenhouse gas emissions since 1990. Its neighbouring countries have cut more. Why is that?

Researchers file petition to preserve Norwegian old-growth forests

A total of 167 researchers from various institutions have launched a call to action for the preservation of old-growth forests in Norway.

Climate researcher on power exchange abroad: It’s not the same as selling salmon

A researcher suggests setting limits for power exports when hydropower reservoirs are low. Bad idea, says an electricity expert.

Over a million seeds are stored behind locked doors on Svalbard

The Svalbard Global Seed Vault is the largest in the world.

Do children actually need to use shampoo?

Researchers and hairdressers agree that children can skip shampoo.

An open fireplace is cosy, but not very useful

The open fireplace is probably better suited for grilling marshmallows than for heating your home.

Snow chaos in Norway: Climate scientist expects more such incidents in the future

There are increasingly more episodes of intense precipitation in Norway. The chaos of snow that hit the capital Oslo this week is just a taste of what Norwegians have in store, according to a climate researcher.

Significant genetic changes in wild salmon

A considerable amount of interbreeding between escaped farmed salmon and various wild salmon stocks has occurred. This could have serious repercussions for the salmon populations, as indicated in a new study.

Wood burning: Researcher's 10 tips for getting the most out of each log

Some wood burners are far more expensive to use than others.

Svalbard in 2023: Record hot, record cold, record wet, and record dry

The rain, heat, and cold in Svalbard in 2023 are making their mark in the record books.

Public transport: Researchers are sceptical about cheaper 30-day tickets

From next autumn, Norway’s capital Oslo will lower the price for 30-day tickets. Politicians hope this will encourage more motorists choose public transport, but several researchers doubt the effectiveness.

Mucus oozed when this deep-sea creature was kept in murky water

Researchers tested how well the jellyfish could tolerate particles in water that simulated potential seabed mining conditions.

Norway becomes one of the few countries with a large national park right next to its capital

A small group of researchers worked on the new Østmarka National Park.

Political majority for seabed mining in Norway: “I am deeply concerned,” marine researcher says

Norway could become one of the first countries in the world to open up for this.

What you need to know about the climate summit in Dubai

The negotiations over the next few weeks will determine how we are going to handle climate change going forward.

Researchers fear that the hunt for gold in the deep sea will suffocate sponges

Gold, silver, copper, and cobalt tempt politicians to open the deep sea for extraction. But we know too little about life down there, researchers at the University of Bergen say.

The seabed at a depth of 1,500 metres could be opened for possible mining. What's it like down there?

What lies in the ocean’s depths, and what kind of environments are researchers worried about?

Modern livestock barns have high levels of harmful gases

Ammonia can be harmful to both farmers and animals.

What would the forest be like if we weren't around?

We need to protect the old and varied forest that still exists in Norway, researcher believes.

The ice in Antarctica has not yet reached a tipping point

But there are big differences between different parts of Antarctica.

How much heat can the Greenland ice sheet really handle?

Even if the tipping point is passed, the ice can still grow back. But that does not necessarily help much in practice, a researcher points out.

The «plastic paradox»: Some clean-up technologies do more harm than good

OPINION: The ever-increasing problem of plastic pollution has prompted widespread efforts to combat it through innovative clean-up technologies. These advancements, however, often seen as the silver bullet to solve our plastic crisis, sometimes do more harm than good.

Swine fever in Sweden is spreading. Norway offers bounty for reporting sick and dead wild boars

African swine fever has not yet spread into Norway. The Norwegian Veterinary Institute is now urging Norwegians to report any injured, sick or dead wild boar they see.

Were Norwegian whalers worried about what they were doing?

Norwegian whaling in the Antarctic consisted of blood, toil and adventure. In his new book, Espen Ytreberg writes about daily life in the industry that ended up almost wiping out the big whales.

The aluminium in your old car should be recycled into a new car, not something else

OPINION: Unless we acquire greater knowledge about what happens at the atomic and molecular scale during materials recycling, progress towards a truly circular economy will grind to a halt.

Heading into a climate that humanity has never experienced before

Temperatures are still exceptionally high in the world's oceans after several months with record heat levels globally.

The secret lives of slugs: Where do they hide and why do the come out after rain?

A wet summer is not necessarily the best for the much detested Spanish slugs.

Much of the ski tourism in Europe could disappear

For the first time, climate researchers have calculated the effect of climate change on snow in all of Europe's major ski slopes.

Even a limited nuclear war could cause billions to die of starvation

Soot in the atmosphere will cool the climate dramatically. The resulting failure in food production and trade will cause many people to starve, researchers say.

Shrimp are extinct in several areas

Shrimp have been eradicated in several areas outside of Southern Norway, in the North Sea, and off the coast of Great Britain, according to Norwegian and Swedish researchers.

Plastic waste from Norwegian hospitals could fill 100 football pitches every year, according to report

A good part of this plastic waste could be avoided, the report shows.

What do mussels do when subjected to warmer water?

Shelby Clarke picks up a cluster of mussels from a tank. She is measuring mussel death rates, she explains. Scientists are investigating how mussels will react to future heat waves.

What can we learn from a Swedish fashion brand to innovate for a sustainable future?

SHARE YOUR SCIENCE: How can we ensure that innovation leads us to a better future and not a dystopian one?

Heatwaves in the ocean alarm climate researchers

Strong temperature spikes in the ocean and massive loss of sea ice in Antarctica concern scientists. Will the climate change faster than anticipated?

Will we be able to pick blueberries in the lowlands in the future?

Blueberries are being monitored year by year. Researchers in several countries are observing how a warmer climate affects the berries.

Parcel lockers can make shopping more environmentally friendly

Researchers believe that encouraging us to pick up packages from lockers instead of having them delivered to our doorstep can significantly reduce environmental emissions.

Only 5 per cent of the ocean has been explored

“I am certain that there is life in every drop,” a researcher says.

June was the fourth warmest June month recorded in Norway since 1900

June was the fourth warmest June month recorded in Norway in a measurement series dating back to 1900.

You don't have to be a child to be fascinated by dandelions

The flower that has conquered the whole world has many amazing properties, according to an expert on weeds.

Researcher warns of explosives in nature

Ammunition left in nature poses an increasingly greater threat to social security, according to a doctoral thesis.

A new overview provides an even more accurate picture of polar sea ice in the past 30 years

The new information makes it possible to see what has happened to sea ice locally along the coasts of Antarctica and Greenland.

Here's how you can make air travel a little better for the climate

Is it not an option to cut out air travel this year? Then there are a few things you can do to reduce emissions, according to a researcher.

Research project halted after minke whale in Lofoten died: “The worst thing that could happen”

A minke whale died after getting stuck in a part of a research facility in Lofoten during the night of June 3rd. The research project has now been temporarily halted.

Decline in the number of wolves in Scandinavia

According to new estimates, there are 510 wolves in Scandinavia. This represents a small decrease from last year.

Tick repellent can cause learning difficulties in bumblebees

According to new research, a type of tick repellent for pets appears to harm both bumblebees and other animals. The EU is considering a ban on the substance.

Norwegian Armed Forces: A lot more ammunition than previously thought has been dumped in Norway's largest lake – missiles are tightly packed

The Norwegian Defense Research Institute has discovered significantly larger amounts of dumped ammunition in lake Mjøsa than previously thought. An area at the bottom of the lake is covered with around a thousand missiles.

171 trillion pieces of plastic are floating around in our oceans

In 2005, there were only 16 trillion.

Norwegian and Swedish researchers completely disagree about pike

Is pike a useful or harmful species? A new study is sounding the alarm that there are too few predatory fish in the Baltic Sea.

Study: Risk of giving birth to small babies increases when the mother lives farther from green spaces

Research shows that a mother's access to green areas — such as a garden, park or footpath — during pregnancy can be linked to a healthy birth weight in children.

Nuclear power is a friend of nature and the environment

OPINION: Based on our recent study of 870 power plants worldwide, nuclear energy is a clear winner in protecting ecosystems, while bioenergy is an indisputable loser.

These small bacteria eat huge amounts of methane. How will they respond to climate change?

When the bacteria are thriving, they eat less.

Half of the world's glaciers may be gone by 2100

Even if the 1.5°C target in the Paris Agreement is reached, half of the world's glaciers could be history by the end of the century, new research shows.

For a long time people thought fossils were animals and dragons drowned in Noah’s flood. Then scientists discovered the Ice Age

In a new book, Reidar Müller describes the history of the climate and the people who pieced it together.